bridal attendant vs bridesmaid?

Status
Not open for further replies.

keannu

VIP Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Korean
Home Country
South Korea
Current Location
South Korea
What is the difference between "bridal attendant" and "bridesmaid"?
The former seems to be the person taking care of a bride through the course of wedding, while the latter is the person for photshots carrying flowers.
 

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland
What is the difference between "bridal attendant" and "bridesmaid"?
The former seems to be the person taking care of a bride through the course of wedding, while the latter is the person for photshots carrying flowers.

I've never heard of a bridal attendant.
 

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
What is the difference between "bridal attendant" and "bridesmaid"?
The former seems to be the person taking care of a bride through the course of wedding, while the latter is the person for photshots carrying flowers.

We don't use the term "bridal attendant" in BrE (as far as I know) but a bridesmaid is most certainly not responsible for photoshots carrying flowers!

In the UK, most brides have a "maid/matron of honour", also known as "head bridesmaid". She is in charge of certain aspects at the wedding, such as arranging the train of the dress, checking the veil and she is responsible for making sure that all the other bridesmaids are where they need to be and that they know what they're doing! The other bridesmaids tend to simply be for decoration! It's true that they usually carry a small bouquet of flowers each so photos of the bride with her bridesmaids will contain a lot of flowers.

I think I might have heard the word "attendants" to refer to all of the bridesmaids and page boys at a wedding (page boys are the male equivalent of bridesmaids).
 

SoothingDave

VIP Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
page boys are the male equivalent of bridesmaids

"Groomsmen" here. And the "best man" is the male equivalent to the "maid of honor."
 

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
Yes, the groom has a best man and the bride has a maid/matron of honour. Maid of honour if the lady concerned is unmarried. Matron of honour if she's married.
 

Route21

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2010
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Thailand
In the UK, the duties of the "best man" are different from those of the maid/matron of honour.

His 3 primary roles are (or used to be):
1. Getting the groom to the wedding on time
2. Custodian of the wedding ring(s), which he doesn't hand over until they are actually about to be blessed/worn and
3. Master of ceremonies at the "reception" (party) following the wedding. He reads out the congratulations received and normally cracks a few jokes from his knowledge of the groom.

He may also have a role in the groom's pre-nuptual "stag party"!

R21
 

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
Yes, I should have pointed out that they don't do the same thing. They're simply the main supporting character on each side of the [strike]farce[/strike] wedding.
 

Route21

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2010
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Thailand
Yes. My comment was really in reply to:

And the "best man" is the male equivalent to the "maid of honor."

R21
 

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
Last edited:

SoothingDave

VIP Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Yes. My comment was really in reply to:

And the "best man" is the male equivalent to the "maid of honor."

R21

Well, I did not mean that he helped the groom get into his dress and straightened out his train every time he moved! Neither does he throw a groomal shower.
 

Route21

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2010
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Thailand
Well, I did not mean that he helped the groom get into his dress and straightened out his train every time he moved! Neither does he throw a groomal shower.

Maybe I should have added a query as to whether the role is the same on the other side of the pond.

I'm not even sure it's the same in the UK anymore, as I've not been back for around 20 years - hence my comment about "used to be".

Best regards
R21
 

SoothingDave

VIP Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
The best man throws a stag party, if such a thing is going to happen. He is also holding the rings, as you said. Unless, at the ceremony a small boy is used as a ring-bearer.

He gives the main toast to the new couple at the wedding reception.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top